Perforation Tensile Separation of Packages

Abstract

Disclosed herein are package separators and methods for using package separators to separate package strips or arrays. An example package separator includes a chassis and a sled that includes a plurality of package seats, where the plurality of package seats is configured to accept a package strip, and where the sled is configured to slide into the chassis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package separator for separating a package strip, comprising:
 a plurality of pin slots; and   a plurality of arms, each comprising:
 an arm pin configured to slide along a pin slot of the plurality of pin slots; and 
 a package seat configured to accept a package of the package strip, 
   wherein the package separator is configured to apply lateral tension across the package strip in a direction orthogonal to a perforation line of the package strip.   
     
     
         2 . The package separator of  claim 1 , wherein when the arm pin slides along the pin slot, the package strip separates into a plurality of packages. 
     
     
         3 . The package separator of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of packages comprises a contact lens. 
     
     
         4 . The package separator of  any preceding claim , wherein when the arm pin slides along the pin slot, the arm pin shifts towards a central longitudinal axis of the package separator. 
     
     
         5 . The package separator of  claim 4 , wherein when the arm pin shifts towards the central longitudinal axis, the package seat shifts laterally away from the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The package separator of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the package seat is affixed to a package seat pin, and   when the package seat shifts laterally away from the central longitudinal axis, the package seat swivels around the package seat pin.   
     
     
         7 . The package separator of  claim 6 , wherein when the package seat swivels around the package seat pin, a separation angle between the package in the package seat and an adjacent package is less than 1 degree. 
     
     
         8 . The package separator of  claim 5 , wherein when the package seat shifts laterally away from the central longitudinal axis, an arm of the plurality of arms swivels around a pivot pin. 
     
     
         9 . A package separator, comprising:
 a chassis; and   a sled comprising:
 a first package seat on a first arm; 
 a second package seat on a second arm; and 
 a third package seat disposed between the first package seat and the second package seat. 
   
     
     
         10 . The package separator of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the sled is configured to accept a package strip, and   wherein the package strip comprises a first package, a second package, and a third package.   
     
     
         11 . The package separator of  claim 10 , wherein the package strip comprises a contact lens. 
     
     
         12 . The package separator of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first package seat is configured to accept the first package,   wherein the second package seat is configured to accept the second package, and   wherein the third package seat is configured to accept the third package.   
     
     
         13 . The package separator of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the sled is configured to translate into the chassis,   wherein the first arm is configured to pivot counterclockwise when sled translates into the chassis, and   wherein the second arm is configured to pivot clockwise when sled translates into the chassis.   
     
     
         14 . The package separator of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first arm causes the first package to separate from the third package when pivoting counterclockwise, and   wherein the second arm causes the second package to separate from the third package when pivoting clockwise.   
     
     
         15 . A package separator for separating a package strip into a plurality of packages, comprising:
 a nest guide rail;   a plurality of package nests configured to accept the package strip, comprising:
 a first package nest; and 
 a last package nest slidably affixed to the nest guide rail; 
   a piston, comprising:
 a piston body affixed to the first package nest; and 
 a piston rod affixed to the last package nest. 
   
     
     
         16 . The package separator of  claim 15 , wherein the piston rod is configured to extend out of the piston body. 
     
     
         17 . The package separator of  claim 16 , wherein when the piston rod extends, the last package nest separates from the first package nest. 
     
     
         18 . The package separator of  claim 17 , wherein the first package nest comprises a nest link with a link slot. 
     
     
         19 . The package separator of  claim 18 , wherein the last package nest comprises a link pin which traverses, at least partially, through the link slot of the first package nest. 
     
     
         20 . The package separator of  claim 19 , wherein the last package nest separates from the first package nest until the link pin of the last package nest contacts the nest link of the first package nest. 
     
     
         21 . A method for separating a package strip, comprising:
 inserting the package strip into a plurality of package seats;   causing a plurality of arm pins affixed to the package seats to slide through a plurality of pin slots disposed along a central longitudinal axis; and   separating the plurality of package seats in a direction substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein causing the plurality of arm pins to slide through the plurality of pin slots comprises sliding the plurality of arm pins along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein causing the plurality of arm pins to slide through the plurality of pin slots comprises sliding the plurality of pin slots along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein separating the plurality of package seats causes a first package of the package strip to separate from a second package of the package strip. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein when separating the plurality of package seats, a separation angle between the first package and the second package is less than 1 degree. 
     
     
         26 . A method for separating a package strip into a plurality of packages, comprising:
 inserting the package strip into a sled of a package separator; and   sliding the sled into a chassis of the package separator, wherein sliding the sled into the chassis causes the package strip to separate into the plurality of packages.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein after sliding the sled into the chassis, the method further comprises sliding the sled out of the chassis of the package separator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the package strip comprises a contact lens. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein prior to inserting the package strip into the sled, the method further comprises:
 determining the sled is not fully extended; and   in response to the determination, sliding the sled out of the chassis.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the package strip comprises a first package, a second package, and a third package. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein sliding the sled into the chassis causes the first package to separate from the second package. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein after causing the first package to separate from the second package, sliding the sled into the chassis causes the second package to separate from the third package.